Irritation-reducing ocular iontophoresis device

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an ocular iontophoresis device for delivering medication, the device comprising a medication reservoir suitable for being positioned on the eye, at least one medication in solution in the reservoir, an active electrode disposed in the reservoir, and a passive electrode, the device including at least one medication dissolved in non-saline water, the said solution having a pH lying in the range 6.5 to 8.5, the medication having a pKa lying in the range about 5.5 to about 9.5 and includes an active principle which is associated with an additive, such as a dendrimer, a polymer, a nanoparticle, a microsphere, a liposome, or an emulsion, and having an ionic form of valency greater than or equal to 1.

The present invention relates to an ocular iontophoresis device for delivering medication (into the eye).

The principle of ocular iontophoresis is applying an electric field to an electrolytic substance containing at least one medication, in order to transport the medication(s) into the body or the organ to be treated, via the biological membranes of the eye.

Like the brain, the eye is protected from the central venous system by biological barriers (hemo-ocular, hemo-aqueous, hemo-retinal) making it very difficult to administer medication at sufficient concentration, specifically to the posterior segment of the eye, in particular to the retina.

The systemic path (oral or intravenous) can thus administer only a very small fraction (a few %) of the initial quantity into the internal tissue of the eyes, and thus rapidly becomes insufficient.

That is why techniques of locally administering medication to the eye have been and are being developed, including the following:

-   -   direct injections around the eye (peribulbar, retrobulbar) or         into the eye (intraocular), which remain very traumatic.         Furthermore, the drug is always diluted rapidly, disappearing         from the vitreous humor in a few days, or being rejected         systemically. This mode of administration also presents risks of         infection, of bleeding, of cataracts, and of detaching the         retina. Finally, disorders such as glaucoma cannot be treated in         this way because of the increase in intraocular pressure.     -   topical applications of drops, which do not treat the posterior         segment since penetration is very limited (typically less than         5%) and which do not enable therapeutic concentrations to be         reached beyond the anterior segment. In addition, tears wash the         drug away quickly, ocular fluids opposing penetration and the         diffusion path is then quite long. Applications need to be         repeated frequently.     -   photodynamic therapy consists in injecting medication         systemically and in activating it locally by using a laser at a         certain wavelength, taking advantage of the transparency of the         cornea. However drawbacks remain: the patient must remain in the         dark, the medication must be modified by adding a photosensitive         agent which prevents it from acting prior to being activated,         and the doctor must possess equipment that is relatively         expensive.     -   inserts in the form of reservoirs of medication placed on the         surface of the eye (in non-invasive manner), such as lenses or         preferably in the conjunctival sac, and serving to deliver         medication in continuous or programmed manner. Numerous systems         have been developed, either in the form of a lens or a ring, or         in the form of a small lenticular or tubular reservoir placed in         the conjunctival sac. The main drawbacks of these systems are         firstly limited passage to the posterior segment which limits         their use to pathologies of the anterior segment (inflammation,         conjunctivitis), and secondly the risk of the insert being         expelled.     -   intraocular implants for programmed release of medication are         put into place surgically in the vitreous humor like         Vitrarest(R) from Baush & Lomb, possibly fixed to the sclera         like the chemical implant coated in a layer of polymer releasing         the medication (InnoRx/Surmodic), or else are         bioerodable/biodegradable (Surodex(R) from Oculex, now         Allergan). One of the drawbacks of this type of device is that         they move freely in the vitreous humor and run the risk of         touching the retina, thereby locally increasing the         concentration of medication, possibly up to a toxic level.         Although it is possible to suture the implant, that requires an         incision that is relatively large (5 millimeters (mm)). Another         drawback is the need for regular replacement. Finally, it is not         possible to interrupt or to accelerate the treatment as a         function of how the pathology responds to treatment.

Ocular iontophoresis is another technique for local administration of medication into the eye, and it enables most of the drawbacks of the other techniques mentioned above to the mitigated. It also makes it possible in non-invasive manner to obtain concentrations and residence times in the eye that are equal to or greater than prior techniques.

Iontophoresis devices are typically constituted by a direct current (DC) electric field source coupled to two electrodes referred to respectively as “active” and “passive” electrodes. The active electrode acts on an electrolyte containing the active principle(s), while the passive electrode serves as a return electrode and enables the electric circuit to be looped through the patient's body.

Instead of using a system of redox reaction metal electrodes where toxic metal particles might pass into solution, it is preferred to use a system of Ag/AgCl electrodes for implementing iontophoresis, on the principle illustrated with reference to FIG. 1. Such iontophoresis is implemented in living tissue 200 via its surface 210, this living surface 210 being in contact firstly with the saline solution of a first compartment (in this case an anode compartment) 1000 containing the active electrode 100 (in this case the anode) made of Ag, and secondly with the saline solution of-a second compartment (in this case the cathode compartment) 1100 containing the passive electrode 110 (in this case the cathode) made of AgCl. The cathode compartment 1000 also contains medication D in an ionizable form (thus giving a counter ion A⁻ when ionized). The polarizations of the electrodes 100 and 110 then establish electrode migration of ionic species in solution, including the ionized medication, which then passes through the living surface 210, and is thus introduced into the living tissue 200. This iontophoresis thus implies that AgCl becomes deposited on the active electrode 100, and that AgCl decomposes on the passive electrode 110 to form chloride ions in solution. This principle requires the use of medication in solution in salt water, the Na⁺ and the Cl⁻ ions then competing with the medication, thereby significantly reducing the efficiency of the iontophoresis.

Although iontophoresis has been used clinically to deliver medication in dermatology for several decades, it is a technique that is still relatively recent in ophthalmology.

Since the eye is an organ that is extremely different from, and is much more fragile in many aspects (such as the transparency of the cornea, the sensitivity of the mucus membrane, . . . ) than most other parts of the animal body, ocular iontophoresis presents technical specificities that are very different from those of other types of iontophoresis (current, current density, duration and control of the electric field to be applied, leakage currents due to the presence of lachrymal liquid (known as the “arc effect”), particular vigilance concerning the doses of the chemical species to be administered and the presence of contaminants in solution, special attention to electrochemical phenomena that take place in solution during electrolysis, etc.).

There therefore remains a need to improve the effectiveness of delivery in order to reduce the risks of burning and poisoning tissue, and of irritating tissue in general (erythema) which can limit the use of ocular iontophoresis.

An improvement in ocular iontophoresis could be found in:

-   -   applying the electric field preferentially to the sclera rather         than to the cornea, in particular in order to protect the very         fragile surface of the cornea that participates directly in         vision;     -   minimizing the density of the electric field (ratio of current         over area), i.e. by maximizing the application area and the         electrode area;     -   controlling the applied electric field intensity more         accurately, thus achieving good reproducibility;     -   limiting application time to enable lachrymal fluid to circulate         well; and     -   facilitating the passage of ions into the eye.

Document FR 2,773,320 discloses an iontophoresis device for delivering medication around the cornea, the device comprising a medication reservoir having a surface active electrode of conductive material which specifically provides the above-mentioned advantages. Mainly by presenting a surface active electrode that is situated at a determined distance from the eye, that device thus makes it possible to distribute the electric field in fairly uniform and constant manner over its application surface.

However, when using the above advanced device, it has been found in clinical trials that although ocular irritation is indeed reduced, it nevertheless remains present. The results of such experiments are described in “iontophoresis: from the lab to the bedside” by Halhal et al. In “Experimental Eye Research” 78 (2004) 751–757.

In addition, it would be desirable to further reduce the time required for implementing iontophoresis, in order to reduce potential risks during implementation and in order to improve patient comfort.

An object of the invention is to reduce the risk of eye irritation compared with the state of the art.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ocular iontophoresis device that is capable of operating with solutions, such as saline solutions, that contain few or no ions competing with the ionized medication, thus achieving greater delivery of medication for given electric field.

Another object is to achieve the above object while not significantly reducing the intensity and the uniformity of the electric field applied to the electrolytic solution, thus making it possible to administer the medication in uniform manner, and significantly to reduce the time required for implementing iontophoresis (and thus reduce the risks associated therewith).

Another object is to propose an ocular iontophoresis device that withstands the pressure exerted by the eyelids when they close.

Another object is to propose an ocular iontophoresis device containing a medication that is presented in a form that is more easily ionizable.

Thus, in a first aspect, there is provided an ocular iontophoresis device for delivering medication, the device comprising a medication reservoir suitable for being positioned on the eye, at least one medication in solution in the reservoir, an active electrode disposed in the reservoir, and a passive electrode, the reservoir including at least one medication dissolved in non-saline water, the solution that contains it having a pH lying in the range 6.5 to 8.5, the medication(s) having a pKa lying in the range about 5.5 to about 9.5 and each includes an active principle which is associated with an additive, such as a dendrimer, a polymer, a nanoparticle, a microsphere, a liposome, or an emulsion, and having an ionic form of valency greater than or equal to 1.

There is also provided a method of treatment by ocular iontophoresis, in which, in order to deliver medication, an iontophoresis device is positioned on the eye, the device comprising a reservoir of medication in solution, an active electrode placed in the reservoir, and a passive electrode, and in which ocular iontophoresis is implemented by means of the device, the medication(s) being dissolved in non-saline water, the solution that contains it having a pH lying in the range 6.5 to 8.5, the medication(s) having a pKa lying in the range about 5.5 to about 9.5 and including an active principle which is associated with an additive such as a dendrimer, a polymer, a nanoparticle, a microsphere, a liposome, or an emulsion, and having an ionic form of valency greater than or equal to 1.

Furthermore, in a third aspect that is independent and possibly also complementary, there is provided an ocular iontophoresis device including an active electrode comprising an electrically conductive layer arranged to receive an electric field suitable for polarizing it sufficiently to electrolyze the medication(s) in solution, and also comprising a protective layer situated between the conductive layer and the solution, said protective layer reacting significantly less than the conductive layer during electrolysis in the solution in question.

Other characteristics, objects, and advantages of the invention appear better on reading the description below, which is illustrated by the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of iontophoresis in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an ocular iontophoresis system;

FIG. 3 shows an active electrode of an ocular iontophoresis device of the invention;

FIGS. 4 a to 4 f show different forms of active electrode for an ocular iontophoresis device of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows an ocular iontophoresis device of the invention;

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show different shapes for the flexible portion of the reservoir of an ocular iontophoresis device of the invention;

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show different shapes for the rigid or reinforced portion of the reservoir of an ocular iontophoresis device of the invention; and

FIGS. 8 a to 8 f show different molecules binding different additives to the medication for administration.

With reference to FIG. 2 there is shown very diagrammatically an ocular iontophoresis system comprising an iontophoresis device 1 including an active electrode 10, a reservoir 20, and at least one medication 30 stored in the reservoir 20, a passive electrode 40 enabling the electric circuit to be looped, and an electrical power supply 300 delivering DC to the electrodes 10 and 40.

The active electrode 10 is disposed in the reservoir 20 either by being fitted thereto or by being formed therein directly (e.g. by electro-plating).

The reservoir 20 is made of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastics material, a silicone material, a polymer, or any other material of this type.

At least one medication 30 is placed in a gel or in solution, and is itself ionizable or is in a form that facilitates ionization (appropriate additives).

By medicament is meant any substance or composition that may be used on or administered to humans or animals as an aid in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease or other abnormal or cosmetic condition or for the relief of pain or to control, diagnose or improve any physiologic or pathologic condition.

The passive electrode 40 may be placed on a portion of the body (in order to “loop” current through the body), for example on an ear, the forehead, or a cheek.

The device 1 is placed on the eyeball 500, optionally being inserted under the eyelids.

The dimensions of the device 1 may be adapted to the size of the eyeball 500, it being understood that the size of the human eye increases rapidly during the first three years of life, with its diameter going from 16 mm to 23 mm (anteroposterior), and that an adult human eye has a volume of 5.5 ml and an anteroposterior diameter of 24 mm.

Nevertheless, given that the dimensions of eyes are remarkably stable in the human population and independent of variations in body size or of race, and that eyes reach their mature size quite early, it is possible to select universal dimensions for the device 1.

The device 1 may be adapted to administer the medication(s) 30 via:

-   -   the cornea 501 alone; or     -   both the sclera 502 and the cornea 501; or     -   the sclera 502 alone.

The cornea 501 constitutes about 5% of the total area of the eye (cornea 1 square centimeter (cm²) and sclera 17 cm²±1.5 cm²) and joins the sclera 502 at the limbus 503. In the human being, the diameter of limbus 503 is 11.7 mm.

The cornea 501 is a non-vascular transparent tissue, and in man its radius of curvature is 7.8 mm, its thickness is 0.7 mm in the centre and 0.5 mm at the periphery, and it is situated in front of the functional retina. It is made up of three layers (the epithelium, the stroma, the endothelium) one of which (the epithelium) is generally the limiting factor, since it constitutes a barrier encouraging lipophilic substances and excluding practically all macromolecules of size greater than 10 angstroms (Å).

The sclera 502 is tissue that is elastic and microporous, containing 70% water, it covers practically all the remainder of the surface of the eye, and it has mean thickness of 0.53 mm±0.14 mm at the corneo-scleral limbus 503. Thereafter, its thickness decreases to 0.3 mm±0.17 mm at the equator, after which it increases progressively to 0.9 mm to 1.0 mm at the optic nerve. It includes the conjunctiva which is a fine and vascularized mucus membrane. The particle size exclusion limit lies in the range 20,000 daltons (Da) to 150,000 Da.

For the sclera 502, the factor limiting the passage of molecules is more the size of the molecules than their lipophilicity.

The sclera 502 is more permeable than the cornea.

Present opinion concerning the tolerance of the sclera 502 and of the cornea 501 respectively to current density is respectively 100 milliamps per square centimeter (mA/cm²) and 20 mA/cm².

There follows a comparison of the physical and biological magnitudes associated with the cornea 501 and with the sclera 502:

Cornea Sclera Minimum thickness (mm) 0.5 0.39 Maximum thickness (mm) 0.7 1.0 Surface area (cm²) 1 16.3 Maximum size of the molecules 1,000 150,000 (Da) Maximum current density 20 100 (mA/cm²)

In a preferred variant of the invention, it is possible to dispense the medication(s) 30 through the sclera 502, it being understood that it presents characteristics that encourage iontophoresis (greater permeability, greater surface area for administration, more favorable to the application of high currents) and that the cornea is a portion of the eye that is much more critical than the sclera 502.

In this particular variant, a special device 1 is provided enabling the medication(s) to be administered through the sclera 502, and solely through the sclera 502, such as a device 1 close to that described in document FR 2,773,320, i.e. comprising:

-   -   an active electrode 10 that is annular so as to be suitable for         being positioned facing the sclera 502; and     -   a reservoir 20 formed by an outer side wall and an inner side         wall so that the active electrode 10 can be contained between         them, the end wall of is the reservoir being the active         electrode 10 or a transverse wall connecting one end of the         outer side wall to one end of the inner side wall.

In another variant, the active electrode 10 is not annular, and the reservoir 20 has a single outer side wall so that the active electrode 10 can be contained in the reservoir 20, the reservoir being closed at one end either by a transverse wall forming an end wall of the reservoir, or by the active electrode 10 (which amounts to a reservoir as shown in FIG. 2).

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown an active electrode 10 of the invention comprising the following two layers:

-   -   an electrically conductive layer 12 arranged so as to receive an         electric field suitable for polarizing it sufficiently to         electrolyze the medication(s) in solution in the reservoir 20         (not shown in this figure); and     -   a protective layer 11 secured to the conductive layer 12, the         protective layer 11 reacting significantly less than the         conductive layer 12 during electrolysis in the solution under         consideration.

An electrical connection 50 is provided on the conductive layer 12 (e.g. by soldering) thereby enabling an electrical link 60 to be connected to the active electrode 10.

The material which constitutes the protective layer 11 is selected in particular to oxidize or erode little or not at all during electrolysis, while nevertheless being sufficiently conductive to avoid excessively reducing the application of the electric field delivered by the conductive layer 12.

By way of example it is possible to select the material containing at least some carbon, such as, for example, an intrinsically conductive polymer such as polyacetyline or a polyaniline or a polypyrrole or a polyphenylene or a polythiophene or a polymer filled with carbon black; or a carbon fiber; or a graphite; or a diamond-like carbon (DLC).

For example, it is possible to select a semiconductor material.

The protective layer 11 is of a thickness lying, for example, in the range 0.1 nanometers (nm) to 0.5 millimeters (mm) approximately.

The conductive layer 12 may be made of any material which is a good conductor, such as a metal, e.g. silver.

The conductive layer 12 may be of a thickness lying in the range 0.1 nm to a few mm.

The protective layer 11 advantageously covers the entire conductive layer 12.

Once the active electrode 10 has been placed in the reservoir, the protective layer 11 advantageously covers the entire end wall of the reservoir.

This type of electrode 10 serves to increase the efficiency of iontophoresis compared with:

-   -   an electrode made solely of carbon (since carbon is not         sufficiently conductive, thereby not providing sufficient         uniformity of current when fed locally, and leading to         non-uniform administration of medication, particularly in the         target tissues, i.e. the circular immediate vicinity of the         cornea-several limbus 503), since in this case the conductive         layer 12 guarantees high current density and good current         uniformity because of its high electrical conductivity; and     -   an electrode of Ag or of AgCl since, in this case, the solution         is not necessarily saline (as is the case with Ag/AgCl         electrodes), which implies a reduction in competition between         the medication(s) and ions of sodium and of chlorine.

The increase in the efficiency of iontophoresis is highly beneficial since it enables application time to be reduced. In ocular iontophoresis, it is important to comply with application times that are very limited, typically being about 3 minutes (as recommended in patent FR 2,773,320), since a longer application time runs the risk of significantly disturbing the physiological role of the lachrymal film in hydrating the ocular mucus membranes, running the risk of significant corneal inflammation. In addition, this reduction in application time diminishes patient discomfort.

Furthermore, the protective layer 11 is not made of a material that is oxidizable at the current levels used, and therefore does not generate potentially toxic ions (such as metal particles that might, for example, disturb the operation of the retina or irritate the conjunctiva).

In addition, the active electrode 10 of the invention does not use any noble material such as gold or platinum, thus making it less costly. In this context, the Applicant has found during clinical trials, that using gold as the passive electrode 40 still gives rise to an oxidation reaction, as is not the case when the passive electrode 40 is made of carbon.

The active electrode 10 of the invention is also applicable to lipophilic medication, unlike an active electrode made of Ag/AgCl for which chlorine and sodium ions exist only in aqueous form.

The protective layer 11 on the electrode thus provides a perfect interface with the medication contained in the reservoir of the device.

The active electrode 10 of the invention is of a shape that is adapted to the surface of the eye that is to be treated.

The dimensioning and the shape of the active electrode 10 are thus arranged in such a manner that its projection covers at least a portion of the cornea 501, or at least a portion of the cornea 501 together with at least a portion of the sclera 502, or at least a portion of the sclera 502.

The third option is preferred because of the advantages achieved by iontophoresis through the sclera 502, as described above.

In a first configuration, it may be decided to make the active electrode 10 by coating a conductive wire (in this case representing the conductive layer 12) with a material that reacts significantly less than does the material of the conductive wire during electrolysis of the solution in consideration, thus forming the protective layer 11 on the conductive layer 12.

Such an active electrode 10 can thus be made from a conductive wire made of silver and a protective layer made of carbon.

One possible architecture for such an active layer would be an array of wires, each made as described above (a covered conductor wire) of a consistency that resembles a fabric, with the cores of the fibers (or of the wires) being fed with electricity.

In the second configuration, a surface active electrode 10 is selected so as to distribute current density more uniformly over the surface to be treated.

FIGS. 4 a to 4 f show particular shapes which may be given to a surface electrode of the invention, such as a disk shape or an ellipse (FIG. 4 a) or a shape constituting a portion of a ring (FIG. 4 b) or an entire ring (FIG. 4 c).

With reference to FIGS. 4 d and 4 e, a wire link 60 is provided for electrically connecting the active electrode 10 to a suitable electrical power supply (not shown), the wire link 60 being connected electrically at 50 to the active electrode locally via the conductive layer 12. In this case, the connection 50 is made by means of an offset part 15 that is offset from the active electrode 10 so as to the located outside the reservoir (once the electrode has been placed therein), one end of the offset part 15 being electrically connected to the conductive layer 12 of the active electrode 10, while the other end of the offset part receives the wire link 60. The connection 50 can thus the offset from the reservoir, thereby avoiding the harmful effects that might arise from the electrical connection (heat being given off, local leakage currents, . . . ).

With reference to FIG. 4 f, the conductive layer 12 is in the form of a grid or array.

Optionally, the active electrode 10 is sufficiently flexible to be able to deform under the action of mechanical forces of the kind that are exerted while pressing the device against the eye.

The active electrode 10 is advantageously arranged, in operation, to present current density of about 10 mA/cm², and to be polarized for about 10 minutes.

The active electrode 10 may be placed against the end wall of the reservoir 20.

The active electrode 10 may be formed directly on the end wall of the reservoir. For this purpose, it is possible to use one of the following techniques:

-   -   electroplating to form the conductive layer, followed by         projecting particles to form the protective layer;     -   successively depositing an ink filled with an electrically         conductive material in order to form the conductive layer, and         then an ink filled with a material that is less electrically         conductive to form the protective layer;     -   successively depositing a solid film filled with an electrically         conductive material to form the conductive layer, and then a         solid film filled with a material that is less electrically         conductive to form the protective layer; and     -   successively overmolding polymers filled respectively with an         electrically conductive material to form conductive layers, and         polymers filled with a material that is less electrically         conductive to form protective layers.

With reference to FIG. 5, there can be seen an ocular iontophoresis device 1 in which the active electrode 10 presents a through opening so as to provide an annular structure, and is placed at the end of the reservoir 20, which is also annular in shape.

The device 1 is advantageously arranged in such a manner that the active electrode 10 is situated about 4 mm from the surface of the eye when the device 1 is in operation, the current of the active electrode 10 of the invention not exceeding 10 mA/cm², and the application time not exceeding 10 minutes.

The active electrode 10 includes an offset portion 15 enabling the connection 50 with the wire link 60 that supplies electricity to be offset out from the reservoir (and thus out from the solution containing the medication(s) 30), as already mentioned above (with reference to FIGS. 4 d and 4 e).

The reservoir 20 includes an outer side wall 21 a and an inner side wall 21 b enabling the active electrode to be contained between them.

The free end of the inner side wall 21 b is optionally slightly offset relative to the free end of the outer side wall 21 a such that the opening of the reservoir 20 (between these free ends) thus defines a concave curved surface that is substantially complementary in shape to the convex curved shape of the surface of the eye.

One end of the outer side wall 21 a may be connected to one end of the inner side wall 21 b by a transverse wall forming an end wall of the reservoir. The active electrode 10 is then positioned or formed on said end wall of the reservoir.

In a variant, the active electrode 10 is positioned or formed between the side walls 21 a and 21 b of the reservoir in such a manner as to constitute the end wall of the reservoir.

The inner side wall 21 b of the reservoir 20 optionally presents a mean inside diameter d_(i) such that D<d_(i)≦1.2D, D being the diameter of a cornea 501.

In which case, iontophoresis takes place exclusively through the sclera 502.

The outer side wall 21 a of the reservoir 20 optionally presents a mean outside diameter d_(e) where 1.4D<d_(e)≦1.8D.

In another aspect of the invention, and still with reference to FIG. 5, the side walls 21 a and 21 b of the reservoir 20 are sufficiently flexible to take up the shape of the surface of the eye.

In addition, the reservoir 20 has a rear portion 22 that is reinforced or rigid and that is suitable for withstanding sufficiently the pressure exerted by the eyelids.

In this case, the active electrode 10 is interposed between these two portions of the reservoir 20, resting against the rigid rear portion 22.

Thus, when the reservoir 20 is in position, the distance between the surface of the active electrode 10 and the surface of the eye can be maintained more less constant in spite of the mechanical stresses exerted by the eyelids.

The ring formed by the active electrode 10 must keep its shape under the pressure exerted by the eyelids, thereby maintaining the application area and also the distance of about 4 mm relative to the tissue to be treated (see above), since otherwise there would be a danger of a short-circuit by favorable lines of current being established between the active electrode 10 and the tissue.

The flexible outer side walls may also act as a barrier against external contaminants and lachrymal liquid that might disturb the operation of the device 1 (arc effect). These flexible side walls thus form a barrier to current leaking from the reservoir 20 and/or against intrusion of external contaminants into the reservoir 20.

The flexible side walls 21 a and 21 b may be made of silicone, a material that is highly suitable for making contact with the eye.

However its flexibility certainly does not enable it to keep its shape in geometrically accurate manner.

That is why it is appropriate for the rigid or reinforced rear portion 22 to be made of a material such as, for example, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or silicone of the polydimethyl siloxane type (PDMS).

PMMA is a rigid material suitable for keeping the active electrode 10 in shape. However it is unsuitable for making the flexible side walls 21 a and 21 b (it is a material that is too traumatic for the delicate mucus membrane of the eye).

These two materials in combination thus provide a device structure that is entirely suitable for ocular iontophoresis.

The rigid portion 22 of the reservoir 20 can be made, for example, by machining, molding, vacuum casting, or any other method suitable for working polymer materials of rigid or semi-rigid kind such as polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), PMMA, polyurethane (PUR), . . . etc.

During fabrication of the part, provision can be made to mold means for filling the reservoir 20 with medication(s) 30 and/or means for circulating the medication(s) 30 in the reservoir 20. For example, tubes for feeding the medication 30, and optionally outlet tubes for the medication(s) 30 may be provided.

The active electrode 10 made of a layer of conductive material 12 and a layer of protective material 11 can then be deposited on the surface of the part forming the end wall of the medication reservoir, using one of the methods mentioned above.

Finally, the flexible portion 21 a–21 b can be made of a polymer material such as, for example, an elastomer polymer of the PUR type, polyether block amide (PEBA), silicone (SI), or styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS), and it may be fitted to the assembly using any suitable method, for example adhesive, heat sealing (e.g. by ultrasound, or by rotation, or by mirror), or by overmolding.

The flexible portion 21 a–21 b of the reservoir 20 may also be made by successively adding sections of material of progressively-varying hardness, from the thickest to the thinnest and from the stiffest to the most flexible, so as to make a reservoir of stiffness that increases progressively going away from the surface to be treated (see below).

The inside walls of the reservoir 20 are optionally provided so as to define compartments, the active electrode 10 then being subdivided into active electrode portions, each active electrode portion being suitable for being placed in its own compartment. Specific treatments can then be performed using different medications 30, each occupying a different compartment, and administered simultaneously or in deferred manner (in which case each electrode portion has its own current control). Advantageously, filling and/or circulation means for medication 30 are provided in each compartment.

In a particular aspect of the invention, the flexible side walls 21 a and 21 b of the reservoir 20 are progressively more rigid on going progressively further away from the application surface of the device 1 in operation (i.e. going away from the opening of the reservoir 20).

With reference to FIGS. 6 a to 6 d, several examples are shown of such side walls 21 of increasing rigidity, each of section that becomes progressively larger and larger on going away from the opening of the reservoir 20.

With reference to FIG. 6 a, the side wall 21 thus forms a ramp sloping progressively away from the opening of the reservoir 20.

With reference to FIG. 6 b, the side wall 21 thus form is a lip of section that increases going away from the opening of the reservoir 20, and of sides that are concave.

With reference to FIG. 6 c, the side wall 21 is thus constituted by successive layers of ever increasing section (on going away from the opening of the reservoir 20). These various layers may optionally be of ever increasing hardness.

With reference to FIG. 6 d, there is shown a reservoir 20 of side walls 21 of rigidity that increases going away from the opening of the reservoir 20, and having a rigid portion 22 that closes the reservoir 20 at one end, also providing it with reinforcement against mechanical forces from the eyelids.

Variants of the rigid or reinforced portions 22 of a reservoir 20 are shown with reference to FIG. 7 a.

In FIG. 7 a, the device 1 has a reservoir 20 constituted in this case by a compact unit including a fine (flexible) portion forming lips 21 for putting into contact with the eyeball 500, and a thicker (rigid) rear portion 22 for opposing the forces exerted by the eyelids closing. The overall shape of the active electrode 10 is curved, with an inside radius of curvature close to the radius of curvature of the cornea 501. The active electrode 10 is placed in the hollow of the reservoir 20.

With reference to FIG. 7 b, the device 1 is substantially identical to that of FIG. 7 a, with the exception that in this case the rigidity of the rear portion 22 is provided by adding new, harder material that reinforces the device.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the content of the reservoir 20, specifically the medication(s) 30, and the form that can be taken on to encourage administration into the tissue of the eye, and more particularly into the retina.

In ophthalmology, examples of medications that might be concerned by this mode of administration are as follows: anti-inflammatory agents (dexamethazone, methylprednisolone hemisuccinate, betamethasone, triamcinolone, . . . etc.); antiallergy agents; anti-glaucoma agents; antiangiogenic agents and substances acting on the neovascular endothelium (retinoblastoma, age-related degenerative diseases of the retina, diabetic retinophatias); antibiotics; antifungal agents; antiviral agents; neuroprotectors.

Furthermore, numerous molecules are being developed to slow down or even stop the neovascularization that is observed in degenerative pathologies of the retina. These molecules can likewise be transferred by iontophoresis, and thus come within the ambit of the invention.

In addition, certain substances may also facilitate diagnosing diseases of a proliferative nature or the consequences of diabetes. Diagnosis is presently performed by systemic injection of fluoresceine, enabling the state of the tissue in the anterior segment of the eye to be diagnosed visually. It is also possible to administer these substances by iontophoresis.

The electro-migration that occurs during iontophoresis relates to transporting charges and depends on the valency of the substance.

For Hydro-Soluble Medication

It is preferable to ensure that a charged species is present in solution, depending on the dissociation relationship.

In practice, the eye is capable of withstanding a fairly wide pH range of 4.5 to 11.5, with this being possible because of the lachrymal liquid (pH of about 7.4) buffer system washing the surface of the eye.

Nevertheless, any application of a device on the surface of the eye has the effect of limiting this mechanism very strongly.

In practice, it is therefore preferable for the pH of the solution to lie in the range about 6.5 to about 8.5.

Consequently, if the acid dissociation constant pKa of the medication is not greater than these values, or if the basic dissociation constant pKb is not less than these values, the proportion of ionized species in solution will be a small.

Medications should therefore be selected that have pKa lying in the range about 5.5 to about 9.5.

It is then possible to use an acid or a basic form of the medication for administration or to bond the active molecule (also called the active principle) (written“D”) to an additive presenting terminating ions (and to a ligand, written “I”, electrically neutralizing the combination), such as a polymer (see FIG. 8 a), a dendrimer (see FIG. 8 b), a polymer, nanoparticle or a microsphere (see FIG. 8 e), or a liposome (with reference to FIG. 8 c, the medication is then contained in the aqueous core 37 and not in the wall 36 of the liposome 35).

With reference to FIG. 8 f, the medication can also be modified, so as to present a structure that is intermediate between the active molecule D and the ligand I.

For Lipophilic Medication

It is usually possible to reformulate the medication in the form of an anionic or a cationic emulsion (the medication is then dissolved in the oil phase of an oil-in-water emulsion) or in the form of liposomes (with reference to FIG. 8 d, the medication is then contained in the wall 36 of the liposome 35, and no longer in the aqueous core 37), likewise positively or negatively charged.

For Neutral medication

It is possible to benefit only from the electro-osmosis mechanism. Under such second senses, it is preferable to use an ionized form of the active molecule, such as Dexamethasone phosphate, rather than Dexamethasone which is neutral in solution.

Finally, the concentration of substance should be as high as possible, the only limiting factor being solubility and tolerance by the eye, e.g. the maximum molecular weight of particles for administration that can be accepted by the membrane of the sclera, or the irritation of the mucus membrane as generated by making contact with the substance. 

1. An ocular iontophoresis device for delivering medication, the device comprising a medication reservoir suitable for being positioned on the eye, an active electrode disposed in the reservoir, and a passive electrode, the device including at least one medication dissolved in non-saline water in the reservoir, the solution having a pH lying in the range 6.5 to 8.5, the medication having a pKa lying in the range about 5.5 to about 9.5 and including an active principle which is associated with an additive, having an ionic form of valency greater than or equal to
 1. 2. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one medication is of molecular weight less than about 150,000 Da.
 3. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is arranged to cover in projection at least a portion of the cornea.
 4. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is arranged to cover in projection at least a portion of the cornea and at least a portion of the sclera.
 5. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is arranged to cover in projection at least a portion of the sclera.
 6. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is arranged, in operation, to present current density of less than 10 mA/cm² and to be polarized for 10 minutes.
 7. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is sufficiently flexible to be capable of deforming under the action of mechanical forces of the type exerted during application of the device on the eye.
 8. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is located on the end wall of the reservoir.
 9. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode is formed directly on the end wall of the reservoir.
 10. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the active electrode comprises an electrically conductive layer arranged so as to receive an electric field suitable for polarizing it sufficiently to electrolyze the at least one medication in solution, and wherein the active electrode further comprises a protective layer situated between the conductive layer and the solution, said protective layer reacting less than the conductive layer during electrolysis in the solution under consideration.
 11. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 10, wherein the active electrode is made by one of: electroplating to form the conductive layer followed by projecting particles to form the protective layer; successively depositing an ink filled with an electrically conductive material to form the conductive layer, followed by an ink filled with a material that is less electrically conductive to form the protective layer; successively depositing a solid film filled with an electrically conductive material to form the conductive layer, followed by a solid film filled with material that is less electrically conductive to form the protective layer; successively overmolding respective polymers filled with an electrically conductive material to form conductive layers, and polymers filled with a material that is electrically less conductive to form protective layers; and covering at least one wire of electrically conductive material in a protective material that reacts substantially less than the conductive material during electrolysis in the solution under consideration, said covering of protective material then forming said protective layer.
 12. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 10, including a wire link suitable for connecting the active electrode electrically to a suitable electrical power supply, the electrical connection between the wire link and the active electrode being implemented on the conductive layer.
 13. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 12, wherein the electrical connection is made by a part that is offset relative to the active electrode so as to be disposed outside the reservoir, one end of the offset part being in electrical connection with the conductive layer of the active electrode, the other end of the offset part receiving the wire link.
 14. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 10, wherein the conductive layer comprises a grid or an array.
 15. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 10, wherein the conductive layer is made of metal.
 16. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 10, wherein the protective layer covers the entire conductive layer.
 17. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 10, wherein the protective layer contains carbon or a semiconductor material.
 18. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 17, wherein the protective layer is: an intrinsically-conductive polymer.
 19. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein, in operation, the device is covered at least in part by an eyelid.
 20. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein, in operation, the device is not covered by an eyelid.
 21. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 20, wherein the side walls of the reservoir are sufficiently flexible to adapt to the surface of the eye when the device is positioned thereon so as to maintain the distance between the surface of the electrode and the surface of the eye approximately constant, and wherein the reservoir has a reinforced or rigid rear portion suitable for withstanding sufficiently to pressures exerted by the eyelids.
 22. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 21, wherein the flexible side walls of the reservoir are progressively more rigid on going progressively further away from the surface of the device that is applied to the eye.
 23. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 22, wherein the side walls are progressively thicker on going progressively further away from the surface of the device that is applied to the eye, thereby achieving said progressively-varying rigidity.
 24. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 21, wherein the flexible side walls form a barrier to at least one of current leaking out from the reservoir and intrusion of external contaminants into the reservoir.
 25. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 21, wherein the active electrode is placed between the reinforced or rigid portion and the remainder of the reservoir.
 26. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 21, wherein the active electrode includes a through opening, and wherein the reservoir comprises an outer side wall and an inner side wall so that the active electrode can be contained between them, the end wall of the reservoir being the active electrode or a transverse wall connecting one end of the outer side wall to one end of the inner side wall.
 27. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 26, wherein the outer side wall of the reservoir presents an inside diameter d₁ where D<d₁≦1.2D, where D is the diameter of a cornea.
 28. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 27, wherein the outer wall of the reservoir presents an outside diameter d_(e) where 1.4D<d_(c)≦1.8D.
 29. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 21, wherein the reservoir has an outer side wall such that the active electrode is capable of being contained in the reservoir, the reservoir being closed at one end by the active electrode or by a transverse wall forming an end wall of the reservoir.
 30. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir contains internal walls so as to define compartments, and in that the active electrode is subdivided into active electrode portions, each active electrode portion being suitable for being placed in a respective compartment.
 31. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein it is provided with means for filling the reservoir with active substances.
 32. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein it is provided with means for circulating the medication(s) in the reservoir.
 33. A method of treatment by ocular iontophoresis, in which, in order to deliver medication, an iontophoresis device is positioned on the eye, the device comprising a reservoir, an active electrode placed in the reservoir, and a passive electrode, and in which ocular iontophoresis is implemented by the device, the medication being dissolved in non-saline water, said solution having a pH lying in the range 6.5 to 8.5, the medication having a pKa lying in the range about 5.5 to about 9.5 and including an active principle which is associated with an additive having an ionic form of valency greater than or equal to
 1. 34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the iontophoresis is performed on at least a portion of the cornea.
 35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the iontophoresis is performed on at least a portion of the cornea and at least a portion of the sclera.
 36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the iontophoresis is performed on at least a portion of the sclera.
 37. A method according to claim 33, wherein there is applied to the active electrode a current density of less than 10 mA/cm² for a period of 10 minutes or less.
 38. A method according to claim 33, wherein the medication in solution is electrolyzed by means of an active electrode comprising an electrically conductive layer that is sufficiently polarized and further comprising a protective layer situated between the conductive layer and the solution, said protective layer reacting less that the conductive layer during electrolysis.
 39. A method according to claim 33, wherein the device is placed beneath at least a portion of an eyelid.
 40. A method according to claim 33, wherein the device is not placed beneath a portion of an eyelid.
 41. A method according to claim 33, wherein a barrier is formed during iontophoresis against current leaking from the reservoir and/or against external contaminants intruding into the reservoir.
 42. A method according to claim 33, wherein, prior to performing iontophoresis proper, the method includes a step of filling the reservoir with a plurality of medications, via distinct filler means, in distinct compartments of the reservoir.
 43. A method according to claim 33, including, during iontophoresis proper, a step of causing a plurality of medications to circulate in the reservoir, through distinct compartments.
 44. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 1, wherein said additive is one of a dendrimer, a polymer, a nanoparticle, a microsphere, a liposome, and an emulsion.
 45. An ocular iontophoresis device according to claim 18, wherein the intrinsically non-conductive polymer is one of a polyacetylene, a polyaniline, a polypyrrole, a polyphenylene, a polythiophene, a polymer filled with carbon black, a carbon fiber, a graphite, and a diamond like carbon.
 46. A method according to claim 37, wherein said additive is one of a dendrimer, a polymer, a nanoparticle, a microsphere, a liposome, and an emulsion. 